Cigar lighter



Dec.. 23, 1941.

CIGAR LIGHTER Filed Aug. 15, 1938 ffo M/J/l, 157 42 INVENTOR J. T. KLiNE 2,267,592-

Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIGAR LIGHTER James T. Kline, Faireld, Conn., assignor to Automatic Devices Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application August 15, 1938, Serial No. 224,869

(Cl. 21B-32) 15 Claims.

This invention relates to cigar lighters, and, more particularly, to cigar lighters having means ior automatically regulating the circuit for the heating element.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cigar lighter which will be positively held in a position in which an energizing circuit is established to the heating element, and the holding means released after the heating element has attained a predetermined usable heat, whereupon the igniting unit is free to move from said position to a position in which the established circuit is broken to the heating element This object is attained by the present invention by providing latches which are pivotally mounted on the igniting unit and engageable with the holding device to hold the igniting unit against outward movement on the holding device when it is in position to establish a circuit to the heating element. The latches arie controlled by heat-responsive means so that they will be released when the heating element has attained a predetermined desired heat, thus freeing the igniting unit for outward movement on the holding device and into a position in which the circuit established to the heating element is broken.

A feature of the invention resides in the igniting unit having thereon a heat-responsive switch which is adapted to close the circuit through the heating element when the heating element is held in energizing position in the holding device, and trip means, associated with the heat-responsive switch, for releasing the holding means when the heat-responsive switch moves to open-circuit position upon the heating element attaining a predetermined desired heat.

According to the present invention, the holding device is provided with an abutment adjacent the contact in the base thereof. A removable igniting unit, slidably mounted in the holding device, is provided with a pair of pivoted latches, which, when the igniting unit is moved to a position wherein the heating element thereon engages the contacts in the base of the holding device, will engage the abutment and hold the igniting unit against outward movement on the holding device.

The igniting unit is provided with a friction sleeve and ejector spring, which normally act to move the igniting unit into a position n which the circuit through the heating element is open at the base contact.

Novel trip means' is provided for releasing the detents or latches when the heating element has acquired the desired usable heat. This means comprises a plunger slidable in the igniting unit and adapted to engage a yielding abutment or actuator on each of the latches. The trip means can be moved past the abutment in one direction and into a cocked position in which it is held by heat-responsive detents, and, upon the heatresponsive detents releasing the trip means, it will move from the cocked position to its normal position and engage the abutments or actuators and release the latches.

The trip means, in the preferred form of the invention, is associated with a bridging contact for bridging a gap between the heat-responsive detents which constitute terminals in the circuit to the heating element, so that, when the trip means is moved to cocked position, the contact closes a gap in the circuit through the heating element. When the heat-responsive detents or terminals move upon the heating element attaining its desired heat, the circuit is open and the trip means moved to release the holding latches, whereupon the igniting unit is free to move under the urge of the ejector to break the established circuit between the igniting unit and holding device contacts. 'Ihe circuit cannot be remade unless the igniting unit is manually moved to circuit-establishing position and the trip means again cocked.

Other featuresI and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims when taken in connection with the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the holder, with igniting unit held in deep position and the trip means in normal position.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the holder, with the igniting unit in deep position, the trip means cocked, and the circuit closed.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, showing the circuit open, and the trip means releasing the latches.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View of the holder, with the igniting unit in shallow position thereon.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View, taken along line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View, taken along line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Th-e cigar lighter of the present invention comprises a tubular sheet metal holding device l0 adapted to slidably receive an igniting unit Il which is movable on the holding device and completely removable therefrom for use.

The holding device has one end closed by a transverse end wall I2 and is mounted, with the other end disposed in. an opening, in a dashboard I3 or other support in any suitable manner. In the illustrated form of the invention, the holder is provided with tangs I4 lanced from the body adjacent the open end thereof and projected outwardly to engage the back face of the dashboard. A collar or escutcheon plate I5 is threaded on the open end of the holder, which projects through the aperture in the dashboard and is moved into clamping relation with the front face of the dashboard to clamp the dashboard between the tangs and collar and secure the holder in place, and also ground it to the dashboard.

The rear wall of the holder has mounted thereon a base contact I6 having a plurality of inwardly projecting resilient fingers Ilia for engaging the igniting unit to establish a circuit thereto, as will be explained. The contact is insulated from the rear wall and is clamped thereto by being positioned under the head I'I of a bolt I8 extending through an aperture I9 in the rear wall and insulated therefrom by insulation 20. AA nut 2| is threaded on the bolt and clamps the contact in place.

The contact is connected to any suitable source of energy by means of a connector lug 22 mounted on the bolt and secured to a conductor 23 leading to one terminal of a source of energy. The lug is locked in place by a nut 24 threaded on the bolt.

The igniting unit of the present invention comprises a tubular sleeve 30 of insulating material, having an outside diameter which is less than the diameter of the bore of the holding device, as shown in Figs. l to 3 of the drawing. A handle 3| is threaded on one end of the tubular sleeve, and a conducting cap 32 is connected illustrated form of the invention, a bridging contact 42 is carried by a plunger t3 slidably mounted in the handle. The outer end of the plunger is provided with a finger piece GQ adapted to to the other end of the tubular sleeve, and has a portion thereof 32a of a diameter which will slidably fit within the tubular metal sleeve and make a ground connection thereto.

As shown in Fig. 2, the conductor cap is also provided with a projecting neck 32h of reduced diameter having a transverse wall 33 at the outer end thereof on which is mounted a heating element 34. The heating element, which is illustrated as a spiral coil of resistance material, is disposed within a contact cup 35 and has one end secured thereto. The other end of the heating element is secured to a central stud 36 which clamps the contact cup and heating element to the conducting cap. The contact cup is insulated by Washers 3'! from the conducting cap and central stud, and the central stud is also insulated from the conducting cap.

In the preferred form of the invention, the circuit on the igniting unit for the heating element be slidably received within a recess d5 in the handle. A coil spring 46 is positioned about the plunger with one end abutting the handle and the other end abutting the nger piece so as to urge the bridging contact into open-circuit position. A stop 41 is provided on the plunger for limiting the outward movement thereof.

When it is desired to close the circuit on the igniting unit, the finger piece is pressed into the recess and the bridging member moved into latched relation with the heat-responsive contacts. The spring 46 is so constructed that upon the exing of one or both of the contacts outwardly to a position in which the circuit is broken, the bridging member will be moved to its open-circuit position, and the circuit cannot again be closed until the nger piece is again pressed and the bridging member moved into closed-circuit position.

Thus, if for any reason contact 4I, which is heated by convection and radiation by the heating element, should fail to open, the Contact 4B, which is heated by radiation, convection and conduction, will be sure to flex before the heating element has had an opportunity to burn out, and the bridging member will move to open-circuit position.

The igniting unit has mounted thereon, adjacent the handle thereon, a friction sleeve 5b hav- `ing an outwardly flared end 5I adapted to engage the collar I5 to limit the inward movement .of the friction sleeve into the holding device, and is provided at its inner end with an inturned flange 52 adapted to slidably engage the tubular sleeve of insulating material. An ejector spring 53 is disposed around the tubular sleeve so that one end engages the inturned flange, and the other end engages the handle and tends to maintain the igniting unit in a shallow position von the holding device.

As will be seen in Figs. l to 3, a circuit between the holding device contacts will be established when the igniting unit is moved to deepcircuit position on the holding device. In this position, the resilient fingers IEa of the base contact will claspingly engage the contact cup 35 and connect it to one terminal of a source of energy, While the conductor cap will engage a contact finger 54 lanced from the holding device and connect the igniting unit to the other terminal does not connect directly to ground but is, in-

stead, provided with a switch whereby the energization of the heating element can be controlled. This is accomplished by connecting a bimetallic detent or latch contact [Ill to the central stud and a bimetallic detent or latch contact 4I to the conductor cap, with the bimetallic contacts insulated from one another and extending in definite spaced relation and forming terminals defining a gap in the circuit. Thus, the circuit for the heating element on the igniting unit l extends from the contact cup, through the heating element, to the central stud, to the bimetallic contact d, and from the other bimetallic contact 4I to the conducting cap to the holder.

The gap in the circuit may be closed by a bridging contact in any desired manner. In the of the source of energy through the ground connection.

In order to hold the igniting unit in deep position in the holding device in which the circuit is established for energizing the heating element, a detent or latch mechanism is provided. In the preferred form of the invention, the detent mechanism comprises a pair of latches 55 pivotally mounted within the igniting unit and projecting therefrom so that the hooked ends 55a thereof engage the holding device when the igniting unit is moved into circuit-establishing position. The holding device is provided with an abutment to be engaged by the latches which, in the illustrated form of the invention, comprises a sleeve 5t, having an inturned ange 51. The sleeve is secured in the bore of the tubular holding device in predetermined relation to the contacts on the base so that when the latches engage the flange 57, the igniting unit will be held in circuit-establishing position.

While the detents or latches in many Ways, they are preferably pivotally mounted Within the igniting unit so as to project therefrom to engage the abutment. This is accomplished by securing a collar 58 within the conducting cap, and having a pair of inwardly projecting flanges 59 carrying upstanding arms 60 for receiving the pivotal mounting BI for the latches. The latches are normally urged outwardly through openings 6.2 in the conducting cap and into engaging position by the action of leaf springs 63 projecting from a collar 64 and contacting the latches. The collar is secured in the igniting unit by a ilange 65 thereon being clamped between the end of the tubular sleeve of insulating material and the handle.

When the igniting unit is pushed into deep position, the inward movement of the igniting unit will be limited by the surface 66 of the conducting cap engaging the outer face of the iiange. With the igniting unit in deep circuit-establishing position, the detent or latch will hold the igniting unit against movement outwardly so as to open the established circuit.

According to the present invention, a novel trip mechanism is provided for releasing the detents or latches when the heating element has attained its predetermined heat. This comprises a pairof pivoted one-way actuators 'IU secured to the inner ends of the latch members, and adapted to project into the path of the stop on the plunger which will act as a trip to release the latches as the bridging member moves to open-circuit position under the urge of the spring 46. The actuators are held in the path of the stop member 4l' by springs 'Il secured to the latches and engaging a transverse stop 12 which extends across and is held in engagement with one side of the latch by the spring 1|.

When the plunger is moved -to cause the bridging contact to close the circuit on the igniting unit, the stop member will engage the actuating members and they will yieldably move about the pivot and permit the stop to pass and then they will move back into the original position with the transverse member of the actuator engaging the latch. The bridging contact will be engaged by the bimetallic latches or detents and held in closed-circuit position, and the stop or trip member will be held in cocked position.

When the heating element has attained its predetermined desired heat, the bimetallic detents or latches will ilex to the position Shown in Fig. 3, and release their hold on the bridging contact. lI'he stop means and 'bridging contact will move outwardly under the urge of the spring 46, and the stop means will engage the actuators. Since the actuators cannot move about the pivot due can be mounted to the transverse members resting on the sides.

of the latches, the stop or trip means will move the latches about their pivots and out of engagement with the abutment, as shown in Fig. 3. The holding action of the latches being released, the ejector spring will move the igniting unit to the shallow position in which the circuit establishedY to the heating element is broken. The actuators are provided with tapered surfaces 13 which enable the stop to pass when the latches have moved about their pivots a sulcient amount to release the hooked ends thereof from the abutment.

I'he circuit for the heating element cannot be remadeuntil the igniting unit hasbeen manually moved to deep position and the bridging contact moved into engagement with the heat-responsive terminals on the igniting unit.

The cigar lighter of the present invention can be operated in several Ways when it is desired to use the same. In the preferred manner of operating the device, the igniting unit is normally stored in deep position, with the latches engaging the abutment on the holding device and holding the igniting unit therein against the urge of the ejector spring. When it is desired to use the it is merely necessary to press the nger piece 1n the handle to move the 'bridging Contact into engagement with the bimetallic latch contacts to close the gap in the circuit to the heating element which, at the same time, cocks the trip means for the latches. W'hen the heating element attains its predetermined heat, the bridging member is released by the latch contacts and the trip means, in the form of the stop means for the plunger, will release the latches, whereupon the igniting unit moves to shallow of the ejector spring, and the igniting unit can then be removed for use.

However, another method of operating the cigar lighter may be that in which the igniting unit is normally stored in a shallow position, as shown in Fig. When it is desired to use the cigar lighter, it is rst necessary to move the igniting unit into the deep position, wherein the circuit to the heating element is established. The

position. The linger piece is then pressed and the circuit closed. Upon the heating element attaining a desired predetermined heat, the circuit is opened and latches released as previously described.

A still different method of operating the device would be to press thenger piece in and close shallow position on the holder. When it is desired to use the lighter, it is merely necessary to move the igniting unit to deep position, in which position the circuit will then be completed through the base contact to the contact cup.

A further method of operating the device when normally stored inshallow position on the holder igniting unit in the deep position. When the heating element reaches the desired heat, the opened and the latches released as in the previously describd methods of use.

If desired, the gap inthe circuit on the igniting unit can be eliminated and the bimetallic latches serve merely as a means for holding means in cocked position. With this out of deep position on the holding device.

Preferably, the hooked ends ia ci the detents or latches are provided with a slight taper so that they will be forced from the abutment, if the igniting unit is in deep position, by pulling on the handle. The taper is so slight, however, that the latches will not be released by the presthe trip sure normally exerted thereon by the ejector spring, so that they will function to hold the igniting unit in circuit-establishing position during the normal use of the device.

The openings 62 in the conducting cap, through which the detents or latches project, will aiord sufficient circulation of air to quickly cool the bimetallic elements 4i), 4|, sothat they will be in condition to close the circuit for a second -or subsequent operation of the device.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In a cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unit having a heating element thereon mounted on the holding device; detents pivotally mounted on the igniting unit and adapted to project therefrom and engage the holding device to hold the igniting unit in a predetermined position against outward movement; trip means movably mounted on the igniting unit and normally urged to release the detents; and heat-responsive means for holding the trip means in cocked position against the action of the urging means, said heat-responsive means releasing the trip means upon the heating element attaining a desired heat whereby the trip means engages and releases the detents and the igniting unit can be moved outwardly.

2. In a cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unit having a heating element thereon mounted on the holding device for removal therefrom for use; detents pivotally mounted on the igniting unit and adapted to project therefrom and engage the holding deviceto hold the igniting unit against withdrawal; trip means formed on the igniting unit and normallt7 urged to release the detents; and bimetallic latches for holding the trip means in cocked position, said bimetallic latches releasing the trip means upon the heating element attaining a desired heat whereby the trip means engages and releases the detents and frees the igniting unit for removal.

3. In a cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unit having a heating element. thereon mounted on the holding device for withdrawal for use; detents pivotally mounted on the igniting unit and adapted to project therefrom and engage the holding device; trip means mounted on the igniting unit and normally urged t release the detents; a manually operable push button on the igniting unit for moving the trip means into cocked position; and heat-responsive latch means for holding the trip means in cocked position, said heat-responsive latch means releasing the trip means upon the heating element attaining a desird heat whereby the trip means engages and releases the detents whereby the igniting unit is freed for removal from the holding dev1ce.

4. In a cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unit having a heating element thereon mounted on the holding device for removal therefrom for use; detents pivotally mounted on the igniting unit and adapted-to project therefrom and engage the holding device; manually operable trip means longitudinally movable on the igniting unit to a cocked position and urged to a normal position; means on the detents projecting into the path of movement of the trip means and operable by the trip means only when moving from the cocked position to the normal position to release the detents; and heat-responsive means for holding the trip means in the cocked position, said heat-responsive means releasing the trip means upon the heating element attaining a desired heat whereby the igniting unit is freed for removal from the holding device.

5. In a cigar lighter, a holding device having an abutment projecting to the interior thereof; an igniting unit having a heating element thereon removably mounted on the holding device; means for urging the igniting unit to a shallow position on the holding device, said igniting unit being provided with means for engaging a surface on the abutment to limit the inward movement of the igniting unit on the holding device; pivoted detent means carried by the igniting unit and engageable with the abutment to hold the igniting unit in the holding device; trip means for releasing the detents; and heat-resp-onsive means for controlling the trip means to maintain the detents in engagement with the abutment until the heating element has acquired a desired usable heat and releasing the detents t0 free the igniting unit for movement to shallow position.

6. In a cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unit having a heating element thereon movably mounted on the holding device and removable therefrom for use; means urging the igniting unit into shallow supporting position on the holding device; detents on the igniting unit for engaging the holding device when the igniting unit is moved to deep position and holding the igniting unit in said deep position on the holding device against said urging means; means in deep position for establishing a circuit to the heating element; trip means movable into cocked position with respect to said detent, said trip means completing the energizing circuit; and heat-responsive means separate from the detents operable to release the trip means to open the circuit and release the detents upon the heating element attaining a predetermined heat whereby the igniting unit is moved into said shallow supporting position and the circuit established to the heating element is broken.

'7. In a cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unit having a heating element thereon; means for yieldingly holding the igniting unit in a shallow position on the holding device; heatresponsive switch means carried by the igniting unit for closing a gap and completing a circuit -on the igniting unit to the heating element, said switch comprising a pair of heat-responsive latch contacts and a manually operable member for bridging the contacts; latches on the igniting unit for engaging the holding device when the igniting unit is moved to deep position and holding the igniting unit in said position on the holding device against said yielding means; means carried by the holding device and igniting unit for completing a circuit to the heating element when the igniting unit is in deep position; and means operated by the manually movable member of the heat-responsive switch means upon the heating element reaching a desired Predetermined heat for engaging and releasing the latches whereby the igniting unit moves to sha1- low position and opens the circuit to the heating element.

8. In a cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unit having a heating element thereon movably mounted on the holding device and completely removable therefrom for use; detents on the igniting unit for normally holding the igniting unit in deep position against outward movement on the holding device wherein a circuit is established to the heating element; means for urging the igniting unit outwardly of the holding device; and heat-responsive means, including switch means, on the igniting zunit, said means being separate from the detents and operable to open the circuit and then act on and release the detents upon the heating element attaining a predetermined heat whereby the igniting unit is free to move outwardly of the holding device after the circuit established to the heating element is broken.

9. In a cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unit having a heating element thereon movably mounted on the holding device and completely removable therefrom for use; a pair of latches carried by the igniting unit for engaging the holding device when the igniting unit is moved into deep position thereon to hold the igniting unit against outward movement on the holding device; means for urging the igniting unit outwardly of the holding device; means for establishing a circuit to the heating element when in deep position; trip means movably carried by the igniting unit and normally urged outwardly of the igniting unit; and heat-responsive means for engaging the trip means and holding it against the operation of said urging means, the heat-responsive means releasing the trip means when the heating element attains a desired predetermined heat whereby the trip means moves to normal position and engages and releases the latches so that the igniting unit is free to move outwardly of the holding device from deep position.

10. In a cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unit having a heating element thereon movably mounted on the holding device and completely removable therefrom for use; a pair of latches carried by the igniting unit for engaging the holding device when the igniting unit is moved into deep position thereon to hold the igniting unit against outward movement on the holding device; means for urging the igniting unit outwardly of the holding device; means for establish a circuit to the heating element whenl in deep position; trip means carried by the igniting unit and urged toward release position of the igniting unit; and heat-responsive latches for engaging the trip means and holding it against the operation of said urging means in a position wherein it will engage and release the detents upon release of the latches, the heatresponsive means releasing the trip means when the heating element attains a desired predetermined heat whereby the trip means moves to release position and engages and releases the latches so that the igniting unit is free to move outwardly of the holding device from deep position.

11. In a cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unit having a heating element thereon movably mounted on the holding device and completely removable therefrom for use; means for urging the igniting unit outwardly of the holding device; a pair of detents carried by the igniting unit for engaging the holding device when the igniting unit is moved into deep position thereon; means for closing a circuit to the heating element, including a heat-responsive switch means separate from the detents and carried by the igniting unit; and means operated by movement of the switch means into open-circuit position for releasing the detents 5 when the heating element has reach a predetermined desired heat whereby the igniting unit is free to move from deep position.

12. In a cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unit having a heating element thereon; means urging the igniting unit to a shallow position on the holding devices; latches on the igniting unit for normally holding the igniting unit in deep position on the holding device against said urging means; means carried by the holding device and igniting unit for establishing a circuit to the heating element when the igniting unit is in deep position; normally open heat-responsive switch means carried by the igniting unit for completing a circuit to the heating element, said switch comprising a pair of heatresponsive contacts and a manually movable member for bridging the contacts; means for urging the manually movable member to open circuit position; and means operated by movement of the movable member into open-circuit position for engaging and releasing the latches after the circuit has been opened upon the heating element reaching a desired predetermined heat.

13. In a cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unit having a heating element thereon movably mounted on the holding device and completely removable therefrom for use; means for urging the igniting unit outwardly of the holding device; a pair of latches carried by the igniting unit for engaging the holding device when the igniting unit is moved into deep position thereon to hold the igniting unit against outward movement on the holding device; means for closing a circuit to the heating element, including heat-responsive switch means having a manually movable element carried by the igniting unit; and trip means carried by the manually movable switch element for engaging and releasing the latches when the switch element moves to open-circuit position upon the heating element attaining a predetermined desired heat whereby the igniting unit is free to move outwardly of the holding device from deep position.

14. In a cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unit having a heating element thereon movably mounted on the holding device and completely removable therefrom for use; means for urging the igniting unit outwardly of the holding device; a pair of latches carried by the igniting unit for engaging the holding device when the igniting unit is moved into deep position thereon to hold the igniting unit against outward movement on the holding device; means for closing a circuit to the heating element, including a heat-responsive switch means including a manually movable element slidably carried bly the igniting unit and normally urged to open-circuit position; and trip means carried by the movable switch element for engaging and releasing the latches when the switch element moves to open-circuit position upon the heating element attaining a predetermined desired heat whereby the igniting unit is free to move outwardly of the holding device from deep position.

15. In a cigar lighter, a ,holding device; an igniting unit having a heating element thereon; means urging the igniting unit to a shallow position on the holding device; detents on the igniting unit for normally holding the igniting unit in deep position on the holding device against Said urging means; means carried by the holding device and igniting unit for establishing a circuit to the heating element when the gniting unit is in deep position; heat-responsive switch means carried by the igniting unit for completing a circuit to the heating element, said Switch comprising a pair of heat-responsive latch contacts 5 and a manually movable member for bridging the contacts; means for urging the manually movable member to open-circuit position the CERTIFICATE CE CORRECTION. Pete-nt No. 2,267, 592. Decemberl 25, 19m.

JAMES T. KLINE It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows; Page 5, second column, line 6l, for "describd" read, -described; page LI, first column,l line 59, claim 5 for "desird" read -desired; and lines 60, 6l, and 62, same claim, for "whereby the igniting unit is freed for removal from the holding device" read --from engagement with the holding device and frees the igniting unit for withdrawal; and that the said Letters Patent should be read. with this Correction there-in that the same may conform to the record of' the ease in the Patent office.

signed and sealed this 17th day ef February, A. D. I9LI2.

v L Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIMCATE oF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,267,592. December 25, 19m.

'JAMES T. KLINE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, second column, line 6l, for "describd" read. described; page h, first column, line 59, claim 5 for "desird" read --desired; and lines 60, 6l, and 62, same claim, for "whereby the igniting unit is freed for removal from the holding device" read "from engagement with the holding device and frees the igniting unit for withdrawal; and that the said Letters Patent should be readv with this correction there-in that the same ma;T conform to the record of the oase in the Patent Office,

signed and seededl this 17th dey of February, A. D. 191g.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

